California Environmental Regulatory Structure Fact Sheet

Overview

Retailers with operations in California are subject to some of the most stringent and complex regulations in the country including regulations governing product labeling, storage of hazardous materials, mandatory recycling programs, and the management and disposal of hazardous and medical waste. This regulatory framework is further complicated by the layered and concurrent jurisdiction over many of these programs between state and local agencies, which creates the potential for increased scrutiny by multiple agencies and can lead to inconsistent interpretations and uncertainty regarding compliance status.

This Fact Sheet provides a description of the California regulatory agencies with jurisdiction over retail operations, key state-specific environmental requirements relevant for California retailers, recent trends in the state’s development and enforcement of these programs, and best practices for staying abreast of new developments.